Dubai's Dnata opens mega cargo facility, creates 100 jobs in Brussels airport

Emirates Airline's sister company, dnata, is expanding its global footprint by opening a Dh33 million state-of-the-art cargo facility and opening up to 100 jobs in Europe.

Based out of the airport in Brussels, Belgium, the new cargo centre includes a 4,500-square-metre warehouse capable of processing 125,000 tonnes of goods every year, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, dangerous items, live animals, aircraft engines and vehicles.

With the new venture, the brand of Emirates Group affiliate, which handles more than 1,900 flights and moves over 9,000 tonnes of cargo every day, is now present in 88 airports in 14 countries.

“We are most pleased to welcome dnata at Brussels Airport as our third cardo handler,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company.

Erik de Goeij, chief executive officer for dnata The Netherlands and Belgium, said, the new facility significantly increases the company’s cargo handling capacity in the region, adding that the local cargo industry will benefit in return.

The company said its latest operations site represents an investment of eight million euros and creates up to 100 local jobs.

The company had earlier reported its most profitable year since it started in the cargo handling business 59 years ago, crossing Dh1.3 billion in profits between 2017 and 2018 and growing its revenues by 7 per cent to Dh13.1 billion.

Its international business now accounts for more than half (68 per cent) of its revenue.

Revenue from the company’s airport operations in the UAE, including ground and cargo handling, went up by four per cent to reach Dh3.2 billion.

Dubai's dnata expands US services creating more than 350 local Jobs

Dubai-based air services provider dnata has launched operations at Los Angeles International Airport as it continues to expand in the United States. The company said it now provides ground handling and cargo services at 20 airports in the country.

To establish operations in Los Angeles, dnata said it has invested $8 million in infrastructure and resources, creating more than 350 local jobs.

Serving six airlines, including Austrian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Qantas, dnata will initially handle 4,600 flights a year.

David Barker, CEO of dnata USA, said: “Adding Los Angeles International Airport to our growing network underlines our strong commitment to the US market, where we have significantly expanded our operations through massive investments in our facilities and resources in the past two years.”

dnata commenced ground handling and cargo operations in the United States by the acquisition of industry players in 2016. Since then, the company has invested more than $35 million in facilities, equipment, training and technology.

 

Earlier in 2018, dnata has opened a cool-chain perishable cargo facility at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, established operations at Nashville International Airport, diversified its service portfolio by launching passenger handling services at New York JFK Airport, and most recently commenced services at Concourse G at San Francisco International Airport.

Including Los Angeles International Airport, dnata’s global ground handling and cargo network now consist of 87 airports in 13 countries.